Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. It's the most common cause of hepatitis infection in the UK.
Most people from the UK who become infected with hepatitis A contract it when abroad. It's common in Africa, Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe and Northern and Southern Asia,. The infection is uncommon in the UK.
It is an acute infection, rather than chronic (long term).
How to avoid infection
· Ensure high level of personal hygiene.
· Avoid eating raw or inadequately cooked salads, vegetables and shellfish.
· Get vaccinated against hepatitis A if visiting high-risk countries.
· Check whether tap water is safe to drink before you go.
How the virus spreads
The hepatitis A virus is found in the faeces of infected people. Poor personal hygiene can cause the virus to spread, such as when people don't wash their hands after using the toilet.
The most common cause of infection is contaminated food or water, and person-to-person contact.
In countries where there is poor sanitation and sewage disposal, drinking water may become contaminated, causing major outbreaks of hepatitis A. Food prepared or washed with contaminated water can also easily transmit the infection.
Fruits, salads, raw vegetables and any uncooked foods are considered to be high risk, as are ice, iced drinks and ice cream.
Food that comes into contact with contaminated seawater, for example, shellfish, can also transmit the infection.
Symptoms
The incubation period of the virus before symptoms develop is between two and six weeks. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Some may not have any symptoms at all, while others may have just mild symptoms similar to those of a flu-like illness. This is particularly common among infants and young children. The older someone is, the more severe the infection and symptoms are likely to be.
Possible symptoms include weakness, tiredness, headache, fever, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. These may all occur for a week or more before jaundice appears.
Jaundice occurs in hepatitis infections because the liver becomes unable to remove a substance called bilirubin from the blood. This is a pigment that builds up in the body, causing the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow.
Treatment
There's no specific treatment for hepatitis A, but fortunately the majority of people recover within a few weeks. On average, around one in five people between the ages of 15 and 39 with hepatitis A is admitted to hospital for supportive treatment such as intravenous fluids, medication for pain and itching, and general nutritional support.
Tragically, a small number of people die when the infection overwhelms the body. This is more likely to happen in people over the age of 60.
Prevention
Ensuring good personal hygiene practices - washing your hands after using the toilet and maintaining good food preparation - is essential in avoiding infection with hepatitis A.
When visiting high-risk countries, it's a good idea to avoid eating raw or inadequately cooked salads and vegetables, ice cream, unpeeled fruit and shellfish. Also avoid unpasteurised milk and drinks with ice, and check whether tap water is safe to drink before you go.
There's an effective vaccination to protect people from hepatitis A infection when travelling. It's available from your GP or nurse who will be able to advise you whether you need it for the country you are visiting. It's recommended for anyone travelling to the high-risk regions of the world.
